ADHD in the News - May 24, 2012

A weekly news digest** from the National Resource Center on ADHD: A Program of CHADD

"Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behave better when they exercise, recent research suggests. Over the last few years, studies in animals and people with ADHD have shown exercise may reduce impulsivity and improve attention...."The need for that physical activity is important for these kids. They would behave better if they had a chance to be running around in recess," [Ruth Hughes, CEO of CHADD] said. Full Story

How Exercise Affects the Brain: Age and Genetics Play a Role (Science Daily, May 18, 2012)

"Exercise clears the mind. It gets the blood pumping and more oxygen is delivered to the brain. This is familiar territory, but Dartmouth's David Bucci thinks there is much more going on. "In the last several years there have been data suggesting that neurobiological changes are happening -- [there are] very brain-specific mechanisms at work here," says Bucci, an associate professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences..." Full Story

Kids are toning up, tuning in (Boston.com, May 20, 2012)

"Teachers at Jacobs Elementary School don't mind when their students get to class a little sweaty and out of breath. That's because the youngsters coming from the school's early-morning exercise class seem better able to stay in their seats for the rest of the day. "We only have anecdotal evidence, but it does seem like students who participate are more focused for school," said school principal Jean Penta. "Teachers have noticed [the students have] a better ability to attend at the beginning of the day..." Full Story

"Increased levels of the omega-3 DHA may be associated with improved literacy in children with learning abilities, according to a new study from Australia. Children with increased levels of DHA in red blood cells had improved word reading and spelling and their parents rated their overall ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) symptoms were lower, according to findings published in Nutrition..." Full Story

Babies zero in on "just right" to learn (Futurity, May 24, 2012)

"Infants ignore information that is too simple or too complex, focusing instead on situations that are "just right." Dubbed the "Goldilocks effect" by the University of Rochester [1] team that discovered it, the attention pattern sheds light on how babies learn to make sense of a world full of complex sights, sounds, and movements. The findings could have broad implications for human learning at all ages and could lead to tools for earlier diagnosis of attention-related disabilities such as ADHD or autism, says Celeste Kidd, lead author on the paper published in the journal PLoS ONE [2] and a doctoral candidate in brain and cognitive sciences..." Full Story

Cellphone use 'puts kids at higher ADHD risk' (AsiaOne, May 23, 2012)

"CHILDREN soak up more electromagnetic waves in certain frequencies than adults, a recent study suggested. According to the research results published on Monday, more electromagnetic waves are taken in by children in and around the frequency band of 1000 MHz - which is used in FM broadcasting - and 1 GHz, the frequency band of mobile telecommunication. Also, children who use cellphones are often more likely to develop Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the study said. The study was conducted by researchers from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Communications Commission and the Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science..." Full Story

Sachs Center Announces ADD Testing Services (PRWeb, May 22, 2012)

"NYC's leading ADD (ADHD) specialist, the Sachs Center now offers testing and evaluation services for adults and children...The Sachs Center offers academic and neuropsychological testing. Arriving at a definitive diagnosis for ADD can be tricky since there is no single test to confidently diagnose the disorder. Only a licensed and trained mental health professional can administer the current panel of evaluations to determine an official diagnosis for ADD..." Full Story

Professional Baseball Player Shane Victorino Raises Awareness of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Young Adults and Adults Through "Own It" Initiative (PRNewswire, May 21, 2012)

"Through a national education initiative called "Own It," Shane Victorino, a professional baseball player, is helping raise awareness of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in young adults and adults. Supported by two patient advocacy groups and made possible by Shire, "Own It" encourages young adults and adults who were previously diagnosed with ADHD to take a quiz and get reassessed by their doctor to determine if the symptoms - inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity(1) - are still impacting them..." Full Story